False Start - College Football Podcast
A college football podcast for everyone... and everyone else. John Buhler and Cody Williams break down the biggest and littlest college football stories every week to bring the joy of this dumb, beautiful sport to every fan and could-be fan.
Episode 209: DeShaun Foster and Brent Pry fired, Early Heisman front-runners, Is Penn State actually good?
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Don't put out the fire because we're just getting started!
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) reacted to the first two Power Four jobs opening up this season.
DeShaun Foster is out at UCLA and Brent Pry is out at Virginia Tech.
From there, the guys shared their thoughts on the latest AP Top 25 Poll and their latest 12-team College Football Playoff brackets.
After that, they...
Three Yards and a Cloud of Punt: Week 3, 2025: Florida is not good. Texas A&M stuns Notre Dame, Clemson stumbles to Georgia Tech, Georgia prevails over Tennessee
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What a wild Week 3 it was in major college football!
It was one of those weeks where John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) were so happy to be college football fans.
From Georgia Tech running the fire drill to walk off on Clemson at Bobby Dodd, to Georgia needing overtime to keep the streak alive vs. Tennessee, the guys have you covered.
With Three Yards and a Cloud of Punt, they touched on Florida...
Episode 208: How good is Arch Manning really? Are Georgia and Miami on upset alert?, The guys are American Idiots on Buhler's birthday!
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In the land of make believe, if you don't believe in me, then what are you doing?
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) celebrated another trip around the sun for ole Buhltron.
Not only did they do some Just Like Novocaine with the entire album of American Idiot, but they also did what their jobs entailed and looked at some college football, too!
Arch Manning has looked good...
Episode 207: How legit is Illinois?, Is South Florida for real?, Way-too-early Power Four College Football Playoff dark horses
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Is Illinois too legit to quit? How about South Florida?
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) looked back at what all happened in Week 2, but through the lens of what could be coming down the pipeline in Week 3.
They each reacted to the latest AP Top 25 Poll, as well as their 12-team College Football Playoff brackets.
From there, they looked at how good Illinois can be this year...
Three Yards and a Cloud of Punt: Week 2, 2025: Florida falls at home to South Florida, Arizona State blows coverage at Mississippi State, Mike Gundy might be cooked...
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Another Saturday that completely blew our brains into a million pieces.
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) reacted to the absolute shenanigans from the weekend that was in Week 2.
With Three Yards and a Cloud of Punt, the guys praised John Mateer and South Florida like they should, while putting Florida and Clemson in their places...
As for how we should assess Arizona State and SMU going forward...
Episode 206: Kalen DeBoer in trouble already?, Incredibly high stakes in Michigan-Oklahoma, What head coaches need a win badly in Week 2?
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Nothing turns faster on you than Crimson Tide fans.
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) reacted to the utter madness surrounding Kalen DeBoer's job security over at Alabama already.
They also shared their biggest takeaways from the latest AP Top 25 Poll, as well as some of their favorite games coming up on the Week 2 slate.
Where have all the cowboys gone? I don't know, but Ricky Stanicky might...
Episode 205: South Carolina uses Beamer Ball to beat Virginia Tech, Miami wins a wet and wild one over Notre Dame, More Week 1 fallout!
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Special teams are special, alright...
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) reacted to two crazy Sunday games attempting to tie a bow on the Week 1 slate.
Buhler was at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to watch South Carolina defeat Virginia Tech with some good, old-fashioned Beamer Ball in the final frame.
Cody seems to have come full circle on Miami with Carson Beck under center.
Together, the...
Three Yards and A Cloud of Punt: Week 1 College Football Reactions! LSU wins Battle for Death Valley, Alabama upset by Florida State, New QBs looking good!
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We are so back!
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) went live with Three Yards and a Cloud of Punt to recap a wild Week 1.
From Ohio State holding off Texas, to Alabama being upset by Florida State, to LSU winning the Battle for Death Valley over Clemson, the guys have you covered!
False Start is so happy to have you!
Episode 204: Week 1 preview!: Texas-Ohio State, LSU-Clemson, Alabama-Florida State, who is going to come out on top?
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The moment has finally arrived!
Week 1 is here, and we could not be any more excited!
John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) previewed the Week 1 slate with some of their favorite games on tap.
Who is coming out on top between Texas at Ohio State? LSU at Clemson? Alabama at Florida State? Find out now!
No matter the journey, it is okay to False Start every now and then!
Episode 203: Preseason College Football Playoff predictions!, Heisman Trophy ballots, Big questions we want answered by the end of the season
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We can almost taste it!
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) made it through their final wave of preseason predictions.
With their powers combined, the guys shared their 12-team College Football Playoff bracket predictions for the upcoming season, as well as what three candidates would be on their Heisman Trophy ballots.
From there, they looked at some of their favorite NFL Draft prospects for 2026, coaches and coordinators who...
Three Yards and A Cloud of Punt: Week 0 College Football Reactions! Iowa State Clips Kansas State, How to Make Week 0 Better
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Week 0 of the 2025 college football season is here with a ranked matchup between Iowa State and Kansas State from Dublin. The Cyclones got the best of the Wildcats, and Cody Williams is providing instant reactions, including why Matt Campbell is the X-factor for Iowa State making a run in the Big 12, why we shouldn't write off Kansas State in the Big 12 title race with 13 weeks left to go, how to make CFB Week 0 better moving forward, and more.
Follow the show on YouTube! https://w...
Episode 202: The Big Dumper! College Football Conspiracies are where it is at today, y'all!
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A tinfoil hat is just a hat you wear at home when nobody else is around.
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) unpacked their six packs of college football conspiracy theories heading into the 2025-26 season.
From the SEC, to the Big Ten, to the ACC, to the Big 12, to the Group of Five, and through the College Football Playoff, these guys left no stone unturned to find the...
Episode 201: Group of Five preview: Who makes the CFP out of the G5?, What G5 HCs are destined for something greater?
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Five is still technically bigger than four.
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) drove it into the ditch with their Group of Five season preview.
While the guys came to a handful of similar conclusions across the AAC, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt, they are well aware that anything and everything can happen at this level of college football.
Together, they picked who will win...
Episode 200: Big 12 preview, College Football Playoff contenders and pretenders, Heisman Trophy contenders, What HCs start the season out on the hot seat?
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Life is about having a big belt buckle!
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) sifted through the madness that is the Big 12 way too early in the morning as a part of their conference preview shows.
While the guys really have no idea who is going to come out on top in this ultra-competitive league, they do like the Big 12's chances to get a star player of theirs...
Episode 199: ACC preview, College Football Playoff contenders and pretenders, Heisman Trophy contenders, What HCs start the season out on the hot seat?
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Life is, in fact, a drive-thru line at Cook-Out!
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) prove they can, in fact, do more than shoot hoops and turn left as a part of their ACC preview.
The guys look at who could be challenging Clemson for superiority in this league, as well as what Notre Dame plans to do as a fiercely national independent.
In addition to figuring...
Episode 198: Big Ten preview, College Football Playoff contenders and pretenders, Heisman Trophy contenders, What HCs start the season out on the hot seat?
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Can you feel it in the air?
That is Big Ten Energy coursing through your veins, boys and girls!
That's right! False Start is back with a bang on this ultimate Big Ten preview show.
John Buhler (Lead Writer) and Cody Williams (Content Director) navigated something fierce to bring you this episode.
They will tell you who their Definitely, Maybes were, as well as who might be donning the Paul Finch Satin Kimono at the end of the...
Episode 197: SEC preview, College Football Playoff contenders and pretenders, Heisman Trophy contenders, What HCs start the season out on the hot seat?
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When it just means more, it don't mean enough, PAWL?!
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) previewed the entire SEC.
Together, they handed out Paul Finch Satin Kimonos and Definitely, Maybe honors to the SEC programs they thought deserved it most.
From there, the guys then put some SEC head coaches on the hot seat, tried to figure out who from this league could potentially get to...
Episode 196: False Start presents Summer Fling! Buhler and Cody talk nothing about CFB to get ready for some ... CFB?!
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Why live in the moment when you can live in the past right now?
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) took the show into the deep end and off the high dive with some Summer Fling!
In the final episode of the summer before their college football season preview shows, the guys dove head-first into some absolutely delicious nostalgia.
From debating all the best parts about barbecue...
Episode 195: Penn State pressure on James Franklin?, Haynes King pokes the bear, The Sleevies return!
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Can you feel the disappointment in the air?
On the latest episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) looked at what it will take for James Franklin to keep his job at Penn State should he come up short in the College Football Playoff once again.
From there, the guys questioned Haynes King's logic of poking the big brother bear up in Athens during ACC Media Days.
After that, the...
Episode 194: Big Ten Media Days reactions, Why Nico Iamaleava left Tennessee for UCLA, Memphis gets shot down in flames by Big 12
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You don't score until you score!
On the latest episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) unpacked how they feel about the Big Ten after media days before getting ready to get ready for the season ahead.
Together, they figured who the Big Ten media is too hot and too cold on, as well as what blue-chip ratio contenders really matter across the Power Four.
They then talked about the...
Episode 193: Who is the SEC media too hot and cold on?, Eliah Drinkwitz loses his SEC card, Is Mark Gronowski a CFP difference-maker for Iowa?
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It is hot as ever outside, so we need to cool off a bit.
On the latest episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) touched on how the SEC media views each of its teams stacked up amongst each other.
Who is the SEC media too hot, too cold and just right on with the help of some Goldilocks?
Also, Eliah Drinkwitz seems to have Big Ten Energy coursing through...
Episode 192: SEC Media Days reactions, Will Nick Saban return to CFB?, Who are the biggest spenders in the sport?
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Come Monday, it'll be alright.
Back from vacation, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) joined Cody Williams (Content Direction) on one absolutely wild episode of False Start.
The guys talked about the most ridiculous quotes from SEC Media Days, if Nick Saban actually wants to come back to college football, and what programs are the biggest spenders on the NIL front.
After that, the guys did some Local Scouting Report with Buhler coming back from Key West before diving headfirst...
Episode 191: Scott Frost Blames Nebraska, Oklahoma at Crossroads, SEC Job Security, First-Time CFP Contenders
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New/old UCF head coach Scott Frost made sure to take no blame and put it all on Nebraska for failing miserably at his alma mater, so John Buhler and Cody Williams had to rake him over the coals. We then look at longtime Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione is stepping down, which raises some uncertainty for Brent Venables and the Sooners. We then look at South Carolina, Florida, Illinois and more potential first-time College Football Playoff teams, as well as assessing the job security of every...
Episode 190: Big 12 Media Days Preview, Sam Leavitt over Garrett Nussmeier?!, Will James Franklin keep Penn State on the road to Miami?
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It's just one of those days...
On the latest episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) was back on the program to recount Athens and Fourth of July shenanigans with Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com).
Together, they looked at Big 12 Media Days beginning on Tuesday, as well as who some of the better quarterbacks in the country are.
Outside of Tempe, who is taking Sam Leavitt over Garrett Nussmeier?
To wrap up the show...
Episode 189: College Football July 4th BBQ, Red, White and Blue Team Rankings, When Alabama and LSU's Seasons Will Die, The American Vibe Check
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It's the Fourth of July and Cody Williams is flying solo like a cup without John Buhler but still celebrating. Who is coming to the college football backyard BBQ for July 4th? What will be the day that Alabama, LSU and Notre Dame's seasons will die as Cody Williams isn't a total believer in them? Plus, we take a look at The American to get a quick preseason vibe check on the AAC and we rank the six (maybe?) teams with red, white and blue color...
Episode 188: Big 12 bad gets best of preseason polls, Favorite freshmen QBs, Celebrating Sad Boy Summer with some help from The National
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The Big 12 doesn't mind seeing itself in a picture, so long as it looks far away.
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) asked themselves why the Big 12 is not doing a preseason poll.
The Arizona State of it all might explain that, but nothing soothes the heart of Sad Boy Summer quite like a healthy dose of The National.
The guys celebrated the Fourth of July a...
Episode 187: LaNorris Sellers proves he is better than Thomas Castellanos, Steve Spurrier does not trust Arch Manning, What CFP contenders will benefit from their soft strength of schedules?
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Don't fall into the trap.
While LaNorris Sellers is too good for that, Thomas Castellanos took the bait when it came the low-hanging Alabama fruit.
Throwing dirt on Alabama's grave is not always the best of ideas...
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) looked at Sellers and Castellanos' comments when it came to Alabama.
They also made sense of another Steve Spurrier gem of a...
Episode 186: Wisconsin sues Miami over NIL tampering, Heisman Trophy sleepers in the ACC and Big 12
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Where's the money, Lebowski?
Wisconsin does not like the fact that Miami wanted and landed Xavier Lucas in the transfer portal.
John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com), back with a new laptop, some new AC and a newfound sense of life, had some things to say about the wonderful world of NIL.
The guys then touched on Heisman Trophy sleepers in the ACC and Big 12, as well as who some of the worst...
Episode 185: Bret Bielema wants 9 games for everyone, Heisman Trophy sleepers in the SEC and the G5
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Nine games?
Yes, Bret Bielema wants everyone in the Power Four to play nine conference games annually.
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) flew solo like a cup with Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) still in laptop limbo.
Buhler touched on Bielema's convenient comments at Illini Night at Wrigley Field, as well as who a few potential sleepers for the Heisman Trophy are in the SEC and the Group of Five of all...
Episode 184: Is Texas overvalued?, Alabama QB update, UCF stadium update, Wisconsin makes phone calls
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Expectations vs. results...
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) flew solo like a cup with Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) dealing with a whole mess of technological issues.
Buhler touched on Texas' overstated value, Alabama's quarterback situation, UCF's new football stadium name and Wisconsin's phone records.
You are never early if you are always on time, and this is False Start!
Episode 183: Lee Corso's final College GameDay location revealed, Future CFB power rankings dissected, Who could be this year's Arizona State?
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Not so fast, my friend...
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) looked at where Lee Corso's final College GameDay show will be airing from and discussed if it was the right call for ESPN.
After that they looked at ESPN's Adam Rittenberg's Future CFB Power Rankings through the lens of Fore! For Four.
They then looked at ESPN's FPI through some Goldilocks before diving head first into...
Episode 182: Ryan Day puts his foot in his mouth, Are we too high on South Carolina?, The best 10 ADS in CFB
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The wrong messenger spoke.
While some members of the Big Ten may want four AQ spots in the upcoming playoff model, Ryan Day was not the right person to advocate for that.
Ohio State is the best program in the country and just won a national title.
On the latest episode of False Start, Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) returns to re-ignite the fire in John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) on this episode dedicated to The League.
<...Episode 181: NFL rookie QB power rankings!, Should Hugh Freeze enter this season on the hot seat?
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Familiar faces in different places.
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) unexpectedly flew solo like a cup a day earlier than he thought for Western Carolina internet reasons, per source a.k.a. Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com).
Buhler spent the bulk of this show power ranking all 13 rookie quarterbacks who were taken in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Where did Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders all fall? Find out now!
...
Episode 180: Marcus Freeman vs. Lincoln Riley for Notre Dame-USC livelihood, Coaches want the 5+11 model?!
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What side are you on?
On today's episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) flew solo like a cup once more with Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) traveling up and down the East Coast.
The big topic of the day was Marcus Freeman's take on the Notre Dame vs. USC rivalry being maintained, while Lincoln Riley does not seem to mind that it looks to be going away.
From there, Buhler looked at what a 5+11 model...
Episode 179: Greg Sankey wears the black hat, Kirby Smart is big mad, Is Dan Lanning slipping?, What about the Matt Rhule pop year?
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Somebody has to be the villain of college football.
For the time being, it is SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.
By being willing to wear the black hat, it may keep us distracted from what is really going on.
John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) did his best to keep this wild and crazy episode of False Start on the tracks with Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) out and about doing alleged bachelor party things a few miles away from...
Episode 178: Is South Carolina the most disrespected team in the country? Is Alabama the most overrated?, What can we glean from the SP+ rankings?, No reseeding in the CFP!
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Can I get a little respect around here?
That is what college football programs like Clemson and South Carolina might be feeling now after seeing where ESPN's Bill Connelly had them ranked in his latest SP+ rankings.
While they may hail from The Palmetto State, leave it up to two guys from neighboring states who root for rival college football teams of theirs in Georgia's John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and North Carolina's Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) to sort...
Episode 177: Ohio State and Penn State are loaded, Notre Dame-USC about to end?, Maryland hires a new AD
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It's all about the dudes, bruh.
Ohio State and Penn State are among the most loaded teams entering college football next year, and that is especially true outside of quarterback.
John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) rattled off their 10 most favorite college football stars who do not play quarterback for this season.
Whether you prefer Jeremiah Smith to Kaytron Allen, it's all good in the end.
What isn't good is the...
Episode 176: Too much love for Alabama?, Arch Manning NFL Draft fix, Assessing Top 25 teams and win totals after spring practice
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With spring practice in the books and summer in session, we have some things to sort out in the wonderful world of college football.
On the latest episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) looked at the top 25 teams in college football at this point of the offseason, as well as a few others' win totals of note.
From there, the guys wondered if teams like Alabama were getting too much love...
Episode 175: To what degree should we trust the Miami Hurricanes?, Mel Kiper Jr. doesn't do his homework, Bret Bielema got the bag, baby!
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When it's all about The U, it's not about you!
On the latest episode of False Start, John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) sifted through a very Miami Hurricanes-centric episode.
From Carson Beck's health, to Mario Cristobal's thoughts on what Mel Kiper Jr. did or did not say about Cam Ward, it is all there!
Outside of that, Bret Bielema got paid the big bucks by Illinois, baby!
To wrap up...
Episode 174: Post-spring practice College Football Playoff projections, Bill Belichick's North Carolina program is getting wacky
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It seems as though a 16-team College Football Playoff is inevitable.
John Buhler (Lead Writer, FanSided.com) and Cody Williams (Content Director, FanSided.com) touched on the growing notion that the 4-4-2-2-1+3 model will be dominating our lives in two college football seasons.
From there, the guys picked their post-spring practice 16-team playoff field, before diving into the wackiness associated with Bill Belichick at North Carolina, Shemar Stewart in Cincinnati, and the living legend that was Pat McAfee while...
